President Thomas Jefferson said, “Monroe was so honest that if you turned his soul inside out, there would not be a spot on it.” The Monroe presidency, from 1817 to 1825, was known as the “era of good feeling.”

JAMES Monroe was born in Virginia in 1758. As a young politician, he was an anti- Federalist, embracing Jeffersonian policies. Before being elected president in 1817, Monroe had an active political career.

In 1790, he was elected to the Senate. He served as minister to France from 1794 to 1796. Three years later, he served as the governor of Virginia. In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson sent him to France to help negotiate the Louisiana Purchase. From 1803 to 1807, Monroe served as minister to Great Britain – a difficult job, as relations between the two countries were strained.

He served a second brief term as governor of Virginia in 1811, and later became President James Madison’s secretary of state. He tried to avoid the War of 1812 with Britain, but that was impossible.

When the British landed in Maryland heading for Washington, Monroe ordered that all important documents be removed from the White House.

He was appointed to secretary of war from 1814 to 1815, while maintaining his position as secretary of state.

Madison was a fan of Monroe. With Madison’s backing and his own ambition, Monroe was the clear choice for the presidency in 1816. He easily won a second term in 1820.

His Cabinet included Henry Clay, John Calhoun and Secretary of State John Quincy Adams.

Monroe presented himself as a people’s president. He maintained high popularity even after the Panic of 1819, when country went into a short recession.

In 1819, the people of the Missouri Territory applied to have Missouri admitted to the Union as a slave state. The matter was bitterly debated in Congress for two years. The Missouri Compromise resolved the struggle with Missouri, admitted as a slave state and Maine, a free state. the Compromise also barred slavery north and west of Missouri.

It was a temporary solution, as conditions were now brewing that would eventually lead to the Civil War.

It was during Monroe’s presidency that much of South America gained independence from Spain. The Spanish colonies looked to the United States for help, but Monroe decided to let the colonies fight it out for themselves rather than go to war with Spain.

At the time, the United States was negotiating with Spain to purchase Florida. However, Monroe wanted to make sure that Europe did not get involved. He warned European states against interfering in the affairs of the Western Hemisphere.

This became known as the Monroe Doctrine and it officially protected the Americas from further colonization by any European nation.

Once the purchase of Florida was complete, the United States began to recognize the new Latin republics of Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Mexico.

Historians debate whether Monroe’s non-confrontational style, which proved effective in foreign affairs, weakened the executive office. He chose to walk the middle ground, looking for compromise rather than conflict.

Was it a flaw or simply the temperament of the man and the time in which he held office?

James Monroe died in New York City on July 4, 1831.

Read about John QuincyAdams on next Friday’s Classroom Extra page.

Standards: ELA Standards 1c, 2b, 3d, 5a

Social Studies Standard 1

USE the Internet to learn more about President James Monroe, the Monroe Doctrine and the Missouri Compromise.

EXAMINE the presidency of James Monroe. Was he a success or failure . How would you rank him in comparison to his mentor Thomas Jefferson?

IF President Monroe were elected today, what do you think he might say about present- day issues like gun control, religion in schools, unemployment, government spending and affirmative action?